December 4, 2019 · 6:15 am

Jack Fisher’s Weekly Quick Pick Comic: Dr. Doom #3

Death has always been a running joke of sorts in superhero comics. Characters die all the time, but rarely stay dead. That includes important, iconic characters whose deaths resonate beyond the pages of comics. Sometimes, these deaths are incredibly dramatic, showing just how great these characters can be when everything is on the line. Regardless of how heroic their deaths might be, however, it rarely sticks.

That’s why it’s often more interesting when major villains die. While they rarely stay dead as well, their postmortem journey is often more arduous. If ever there was a villain who constantly skews the concept of death, it’s Victor Von Doom. If anyone needs proof, then look no further than “Dr. Doom #3.”

While he has “died” before, he rarely stays dead. It’s not just because every one of his “deaths” can be attributed to a Doombot, either. This is a man who has been a God and won battles against Marvel’s version of the devil. To him, death is more an inconvenience than a permanent end. It’s just a lot more inconvenient than usual in “Dr. Doom #3.”

These are not good times for Victor Von Doom. The Fantastic Four are back. His brief stint as the new Iron Man ended before he had a chance to show up Tony Stark. He has also been deposed from Latveria, exiled from the country, and thrown into a world with a target on his back for every superhero and SHIELD agent. It is the most vulnerable Doom has been since he was stranded butt naked on Counter Earth.

In short, he’s vulnerable, pissed off, and under constant attack. It’s precisely the situation that brings out the best and worst in Dr. Doom. While the events of “Dr. Doom #2” ended with him “dying” at the hands of Taskmaster, death only gives him a chance to remind everyone why no afterlife can hold him.

It also gives him a chance at another rematch with Mephisto, also known as Marvel’s devil and the one responsible for breaking up Spider-Man and Mary Jane’s marriage. It’s not the first time they’ve clashed, but to date, Dr. Doom has a winning record against Mephisto. That’s something Mephisto is eager to change in his own hellish way.

It makes for a battle full of hellfire. Artist Salvador Larroca brings beautiful depictions of the hellscape that is Mephisto’s domain and writer Christopher Cantwell captures their less-than-heavenly egos every step of the way.

Mephisto tries to torment Doom with what he has sacrificed in the past to achieve his goals. Doom tries torment Mephisto by reminding him that he has beaten damnation before and only got stronger because of it. Neither one of them comes off as heroic, but that’s exactly what makes Doom’s defiance of death’s grip so unique.

Dr. Doom is not the kind of man who makes heroic sacrifices, but he’s also not a man who does what he does for no reason. As I’ve noted before and as other comics have highlighted, Doom doesn’t terrorize innocent people, heroes, and even other villains for no reason. He does what he does because he truly believes that the only future in which people are free from want and suffering is a future in which he rules.

It’s a sentiment that the late Stan Lee himself echoed. The first two issues of this series effectively double down on this vision, but “Dr. Doom #3” presents it with a major challenge. There are obstacles in his way aside from the Fantastic Four and the Avengers. Death and damnation only compound those obstacles, but as is often the case, Doom raises to the challenge.

There are times when Mephisto tries to poke at Dr. Doom’s very few, but very real vulnerabilities. He tempts him with challenges and deals that test even his unshakable will. Cantwell never lets Doom come off as pure evil or pure ego, but he never comes off as a hero, either.

Heroes don’t beat death, Hell, and the Devil like this. At the same time, villains don’t prevail in ways that makes us want to cheer them on. That’s what Dr. Doom does in “Dr. Doom #3” and he’s somehow more menacing because of it.

There are only a handful of characters in comics that can truly die and stay dead, even if some of them do find roles in alternate universes. There are also certain characters who can die in any number of ways, but will never stay dead for long. Dr. Doom is definitely on that list, if not at the very top.

“Dr. Doom #3” might very well be Doom’s darkest hour in the sense that his destiny to rule the world in a Utopian future seemed most distant. He has been dethroned, killed off, and sent to Hell to be tormented by a devil with plenty of motivation to see him suffer. For once, Doom has to beat the odds when they’re not stacked in his favor.

It’s a test of his will and resolve, but one we expect him to pass because he’s Dr. Doom. This is what he does. It doesn’t matter how many times every hero, villain, angel, or demon takes him down. Doom always finds a way to claw his way back. It’s not always easy to root for Dr. Doom, but when he’s beating the devil himself, it’s hard not to cheer him on.

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December 3, 2019 · 11:34 am

Jack Fisher’s Guide To (Awesome) Gift Giving

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It’s official now. Thanksgiving is over. The leftovers are mostly gone. That means for the next few weeks, the holiday spirit will revolve entirely around Christmas and Christmas-like festivities. There’s no more complaining about seeing holiday decorations too early. At this point, the time is right to get into the swing of things.

Whether you celebrate it or not, there’s no avoiding it. The season is upon us. We see it in commercials, holiday specials, holiday-themed food, and holiday music. By now, we’ve all probably heard Mariah Carey’s “All I Want For Christmas Is You” at least a dozen times on the radio.

Without a doubt, Christmas is my favorite time of year. It always has been. As a kid, my family always did so many wonderful things around Christmas. Some of my fondest childhood memories took place around Christmas. As an adult, I found entirely new ways to make it memorable. I’ve every intention of keeping that tradition, especially once I find the love of my life.

Chief among those traditions is my approach to gift giving. Talk to anyone in my family and they’ll tell you the same thing. When it comes to giving Christmas gifts, I go above and beyond. I’m not the kind of guy who will be cheap or thoughtless. I’m also not the kind of guy who puts in minimal effort, stuffing cheap crap into bags and slapping tags on it. I am willing to put extra time and money into holiday gift giving.

It doesn’t matter if I’m buying for my parents, my siblings, my friends, or my nieces and nephews, who are all still kids. I make it a point to give them gifts that are special, memorable, and meaningful. From what I get into how I wrap them, I make sure every gift I give on the holidays conveys a sense of love and sincerity.

For that reason, and in hopes of inspiring others to go the extra mile this Christmas, I’d like to share my unofficial guide, of sorts, to gift giving on the holidays. It’s not a science, but it’s not some wild crap shoot either. You can give awesome gifts without being rich, psychic, or possessed by the spirit of Santa Claus.

These are simple tips and tricks that I’ve learned from years of successful gift giving. I sincerely hope they help enhance your holiday experience, both with respect to giving gifts and inspiring the right spirit for this time of year.

Tip #1: Be Proactive And Listen Along The Way

This may seem too obvious, but I’ll say it anyways. When it comes to Christmas shopping, you don’t want to procrastinate. I know that’s easier said than done. I know there’s a reason why people feel inclined to procrastinate. Given everything that goes on during the holidays, people have even more excuses.

However, this is one effort for which you really want to be proactive. That means planning or at least contemplating your gift giving schedule around Halloween. It may sound too early, but trust me. It pays off.

This past year, I began browsing Amazon, Ebay, and all the usual retail outlets around mid-October, putting together lists of potential gifts for loved ones. I didn’t buy anything at that point. The idea wasn’t to buy it all at once. That’s actually not a good strategy. The best recourse, in my experience, is to have a long list of possible gifts. It’s just a matter of selecting the right gift for the right person.

You won’t always know that in mid-October. You might not even know that until mid-December. That’s where the listening part comes in. As early as Labor Day, start listening to your friends and family. Get a sense for what they want or need. You don’t have to be obvious. A little tact goes a long way.

Then, once Thanksgiving comes around and every major outlet starts throwing big sales, you already have a list of gifts to work with. Take advantage of those sales and you’ll even save money in the process. There is literally no downside to being proactive during the holidays, which is why it’s probably the most important tip I can give for the holidays.

Tip #2: Be Transparent With Loved Ones For Their Gifts (And Yours)

This tactic is a bit more subtle, but it pays off in the grand scheme of things. Sometimes, in order to glean what your loved ones want for Christmas, you have to start by letting them know what you want. Most of my friends and relatives agree. I’m very easy to shop for on the holidays.

That’s not just because I maintain an Amazon Wish List and that most of my requests involve comics, video games, and accessories that rarely cost more than $50. I’m hope and honest about what I want them to get me. I’ll go so far as to text them multiple links to items I want. When you’re that easy to shop for, people are more willing to return the favor.

This has helped a great deal with loved ones who rarely give me any clues about what to get them. Some are just difficult to shop for because they claim to not want anything. Some are genuinely sincere about that. However, they know I’m still getting them something. It can either be just some random thing I guess on or something they can help make meaningful.

Sometimes, it takes a few years to get that sort of rapport with a loved one, but it’s worth doing. Trust me. When you find that right gift for that someone and see their reaction, it makes the holidays that much more special.

Tip #3: Find Meaningful Gifts (Which Need Not Be Expensive)

This is another tip that seems logical, but is easier said than done. That whole notion that it’s the thought that counts isn’t completely wrong, but it still has some merit. Meaningful gifts are the best kind of gifts to get someone. It can have both sentimental and material value. If you really care about someone, you want this gift to send a message. Giving it meaning always helps.

Years ago, a friend of mine got his girlfriend an iPod mini. It was simple. It didn’t seem that meaningful at first. Then, I found out he engraved a quote from his girlfriend’s mother on the back. That quote made that gift more meaningful than anything else he could’ve given her. Needless to say, that was a memorable Christmas and my friend is still with that same woman.

Giving a gift greater meaning also doesn’t mean buying something expensive. Some of the most meaningful gifts I’ve ever given cost less than $20, but they were extremely personal and they sent a message to the person I gave it to. They got that message loud and clear. Our Christmas was better because of it. You can put a price on a lot of things during the holidays, but you can’t put a dollar value on genuine sentiment.

Tip #4: Know When (And How) A Gift Card Is Appropriate

This is a somewhat controversial topic among gift-giving circles. There’s this notion that if you really care about someone, you never give them a gift card. Gift cards are great for birthdays or for people you can’t always see very often, but there’s a taboo with respect to giving them as a Christmas gift. I don’t entirely agree with that.

In general, I don’t give gift cards. I treat it as a last resort, but it’s still an option. I just try to make it more than just a socking stuffer. You can give greater meaning to a gift card. One year, I included a gift card with a Christmas card that has a poem I wrote in it. That poem helped give greater value to the gift card. It made the gesture personal. It showed that I cared and it got the point across.

In the right circumstances, gift cards can totally work. When someone can’t be there for the holidays or is still new to the family, as is often the case with in laws and extended family, a gift card can go a long way towards establishing a rapport. I find that it’s a useful starting point with someone, but it shouldn’t be the endpoint.

Personally, I hope the taboo surrounding gift cards fades in the coming years. With more and more shopping being done online, I think gift cards are a lot more practical today than they were when I was a kid. The rules surrounding them may change, but for now, a gift card should remain a last resort when shopping for a loved one.

Tip #5: Make A List (And Check It More Than Twice)

That old adage about Santa having a list and checking it twice isn’t just a memorable song lyric. It’s a very practical tool for keeping track of your holiday gift giving. I maintain a list on my phone that has everyone I buy a gift for, as well as some ideas on what to get them. I constantly update that list over the course of the year and I let people know when they’re on it.

When the time comes to start buying, I use that list to track what I buy, who I buy it for, and how they react to it. This list, which can get a little bloated at times, acts as both a reference and a guide onto how I perform every Christmas. Given the size of my family and the amount of gifts I buy, it helps to keep track of who gets what. It also helps to identify a certain trend in terms of what certain loved ones like.

Over the years, those trends have helped me refine my gift giving skills for certain people. I learn their tastes. I learn what makes a gift meaningful to them. Most importantly, I keep track of it. Don’t expect to remember all these little quirks over the course of a year.

Keep a list. Check it constantly, especially around mid-November. It’ll ensure you know what to look for and who to get it for when the time comes. It also acts as a way of noting ideas that come to you for certain people. On more than one occasion, I’ll randomly see something online or in a store that I know someone would love for Christmas. I make a note of it and it pays off in the long run.

I hope this helps everyone in their gift giving efforts this season. As I write this, I’m proud to say my shopping is done. I have my presents ready and wrapped for my loved ones. I look forward to seeing their reactions on Christmas morning. I hope everyone else can enjoy a similar holiday experience.

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December 2, 2019 · 10:40 am

Why We Should Stop Bleeping, Blurring, And Censoring

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Over the course of history, certain tools, traditions, and words have become obsolete. It’s just part of the ever-changing nature of society. It’s why we don’t use VCRs or cassette tapes anymore. It’s also why we don’t use words like jargogle, corrade, and kench. Those are all real words that used to be common in the English language. Now, they’re relics of history.

Given the chaotic, yet evolving nature of language, why do we still censor certain words in the media? I don’t ask that question as someone who thinks Big Bird should start dropping F-bombs on Sesame Street. I’m genuinely curious as to how we can still justify bleeping certain words when they’re said on TV or over the radio.

I know the history of censorship in mass media in the United States. I know there are laws like the Communications Decency Act and famous Supreme Court cases like FCC v. Pacifica Foundation. Many of these laws have a basis in protecting the eyes and ears of children from hearing or seeing something objectionable.

At a time when the media had only a handful of accessible channels, the might have made sense to some extent. I say might because I certainly don’t agree with bleeping or blurring anything. Hiding something, be it profanity or female nipples, doesn’t make it less real. If anything, it gives it a greater allure, but that’s beside the point.

We live in different times now. That FCC v. Pacifica Foundation decision was rendered in 1978, a time before the internet, smartphones, and comments sections. Today, anyone with a cell phone and an internet connection can look up any amount of obscene, indecent, profane content, plenty of which is accessible to children for free and without a credit card number.

Kids know what these words are. Chances are, they know what female nipples look like too. However, TV shows and radio stations still blur and bleep these things as though they’re as damaging as a pack of cigarettes. I know the law is often slow to catch up to trends in technology, but at this point, bleeping or blurring anything is more a joke than a legal mandate.

That’s easy for me to say as a legal adult with no kids, but I haven’t forgotten what it was like to be a kid. I remember hearing these dirty words and seeing these dirty images. I knew what they meant. My parents didn’t hide that from me. They didn’t like me saying those words or talking about those topics all the time, but they told me the truth and I understood it.

Kids may be impressionable, but they’re not stupid. Most kids are smart enough to understand that words carry certain meaning and the human body is composed of many parts, some more visually appealing than others. Censoring it doesn’t change that. If anything, it sends the message that everyone thinks they’re too stupid or weak to handle these concepts.

Aside from insulting kids as a whole, it also operates under the assumption that just hearing certain words or seeing certain images somehow damage them, as though human beings are ever that simplistic. While there is some research on this topic, the conclusions are fairly limited. The only common thread seems to be that, when it comes to dirty words, context matters.

There are times when we, as human beings, need to verbalize our emotions. When we’re angry, in pain, or upset, we’re going to want to communicate that. Profanity is just a byproduct of that. I know that when I stub my toe, I don’t stop to censor myself. I drop as much F-bombs as I have to and the world remains intact, even when there are children nearby.

That doesn’t mean I want kids to cuss like me all the time. Again, there is a context. There’s a time and a place for that sort of language. That’s an important lesson to teach someone at any age. That way, they’ll know not to sound like an asshole at a job interview or while on a date. Bleeping words doesn’t teach that lesson. It just gives these words more power than they deserve.

Standards are always changing. There was a time when Clark Gable saying “damn” in “Gone With The Wind” was considered shocking. When I was a kid, I certainly got plenty of scorn when I said words like that, even while not in public. However, hearing them on TV and movies didn’t change my understanding of these words. It just sounded stupid.

This used to be considered mature.

These days, it’s not uncommon to hear someone say “damn” in a TV show or song. It doesn’t get bleeped or censored. More and more, words like “shit” aren’t being bleeped either. Rick Sanchez says it at least once an episode on “Rick and Morty.” There was even an episode of “South Park” that made saying “shit” on a TV show a big deal.

In terms of knowing when something has become obsolete to the point of absurdity, that’s as clear a sign as any. The same goes for blurring certain body parts. The widespread availability and accessibility of internet porn has removed all sense of mystery from the imagery of breasts, butts, and genitalia. Kids today no longer need to find someone’s porn stash to see these parts in all their glory. They just need an internet connection.

Now, that’s not to say I’m okay with every prime-time network show depicting the same level of profanity, sex, and violence as an episode of “Game of Thrones.” Like anything, there can be too much of it and if overdone, even the most obscene or indecent concepts lose all meaning and are devoid of impact.

There are also some people who are genuinely uncomfortable using certain words and seeing certain images. That’s perfectly fine. That’s their choice. Since there are plenty of options in terms of channels, websites, and radio stations, they don’t have to listen to or see this kind of content. Even if they do, the world doesn’t end because they’re temporarily distressed.

When the late, great George Carlin famously listed the infamous seven dirty words that became the basis of a Supreme Court case, there was a context and a situation at the time that made this kind of censorship seem reasonable. That context and those times are long gone. Carlin himself understood that. When it came to deconstructing the absurdities of language, he said it best when he made this observation.

These words have no power. We give them this power by refusing to be free and easy with them. We give them great power over us. They really, in themselves, have no power. It’s the thrust of the sentence that makes them either good or bad.

 

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December 1, 2019 · 8:48 am

Jack Fisher’s Sexy Sunday Thoughts: Holiday Shopping 2019 Edition

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It’s official. The holidays are here! That means the people who have been whining about seeing Christmas decorations since October can finally stop whining. There’s no more leftover turkey or Halloween candy. For the next few weeks, it’s all about getting ready for Christmas and all the festive joys that entails.

For me, one of those joys involves holiday shopping. Yes, I know that’s strange to hear from a straight guy who writes sexy short stories about sex robots. No, I don’t care. I love shopping, in general. I attribute that mostly to my awesome mother, who just loved taking me to malls when I was a baby. I like to think that left an indelible mark that is at its best during the holidays.

That’s because when it comes to holiday shopping and buying presents for loved ones, I do not take it lightly. I’m not cheap and I make a concerted effort to get a gift that’s meaningful. That means no gift cards or last-minute panic buys. When someone opens a gift I bought them, I want their face to light up like a dozen Christmas trees. Seeing that joy and sharing it with loved ones is part of why I love the holidays.

It all starts with the shopping. I know the malls are crowded, the parking is a mess, and the commercials are cheesy. I don’t care. I love every second of it and I intend to enjoy it until Christmas Eve. As of now, most of my shopping is done. I still have a few more gifts to buy and I intend to make them count.

Say what you will about my opinions on politics, religion, and sex robots. Just never doubt my Christmas spirit. I hope these Sexy Sunday Thoughts make that point. Enjoy!

“The ability of a man to masturbate to the same porn star is indicative of how loyal he’ll be in a relationship.”

“Technically, family reunion are celebrations of successful orgasms.”

“A happy spouse, a loyal spouse, and a horny spouse are difficult traits to juggle.”

“When you think about it, simultaneous orgasm was the first manifestation of socialism.”

“A relationship based on make-up sex is the romantic equivalent of a stock market bubble.”

“Someone with a foot fetish probably has mixed feelings about dirty socks.”

“Take a moment to appreciate how creative and horny the inventor of certain sex toys must have been.”

I hope that helped get everyone into the holiday shopping spirit. Whether you do it online or brave the crowded malls, I encourage everyone to put a little extra effort into getting gifts for your loved ones. They don’t have to be expensive. They just have to be meaningful and sincere. That, more than anything, is what makes the holiday spirit so special.

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November 30, 2019 · 8:18 am

“The Perfect Deal” A Sexy Short Story (About Holiday Shopping)

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The following is a sexy short story about Black Friday shopping, finding the perfect gift for a loved one, and getting a great deal on that gift. These are all festive topics that I’ve channeled into a sexy story. I hope you enjoy it and I hope it gets you in the holiday spirit. As always, I welcome comments and feedback.

“When it came to making a deal, everyone had a line they refused to cross. Those who drew that line too carefully were often the first to get ripped off.”

That was the first sales lesson that Stacy Stamper’s father had taught her as a little girl. Being the son of a traveling salesman and the cofounder of successful marketing company, her father treated sales with a passion that few could match. He said he’d planned on passing down his valuable knowledge to his kids one day. As it just so happened, Stacy was the oldest of the three and often the first to be in a position to use that knowledge.

However, sometimes being the first meant crossing a few lines she hadn’t expected.

“Out here,” said the deep, excited voice of Marvin “Max” Dresden. “Nobody comes into these parts at this hour, especially on Black Friday.”

“It’ll do,” said Stacy. “Just remember I know which parts of this store are being monitored by cameras. So if you’re hoping to record our little exchange, stop hoping.”

“Believe me, I’m looking to record anything. My girlfriend already busts my balls whenever she finds porn on my computer. I’m not looking egg her on…at least until the lease on our apartment is up and we can break up properly.”

“I’m glad your motivations are so simple,” she told him, “but that doesn’t make you any less a sleaze bag.”

“Speak for yourself, Stacy. You’re the one whoring yourself for a fancy pair of cufflinks.”

She scolded the tall, well-dressed man before her, but stopped short of arguing his rhetoric. He might have been a shallow, obnoxious frat boy who never worked a job his well-connected parents didn’t get him, but he had something she wanted and getting it required some ambitious negotiating. In the process, Stacy found out she was prepared to cross certain lines to complete the deal of a lifetime.

Doing so meant meeting up with Max Dresden at four in the morning at the high end West Hills Mall on Black Friday – the unofficial holiday of big deals, which seemed so fitting. While most of the heavy shopping traffic gathered around the north mezzanine, Max had her meet him at a utility entrance on the west end. From there, he led her to an area just outside the staff lounge where they could finalize their lurid deal.

“Call it whatever you want, Max,” she told him. “We agreed on the terms. And I have your girlfriend’s number and your mother’s personal email address as leverage, just in case you’re thinking about changing them.”

“Don’t remind me,” he said, rolling his eyes. “I’m still trying to figure out how you got that from me.”

“You don’t need to know that anymore than I need to know how you ended up with a pair of rare cufflinks. We both want this deal to go smoothly so let’s focus on that.”

Max bit his tongue. He might not have been too bright, but he understood incentives and leverage. That was all she needed him to understand for the sake of the deal.

Officially, Stacy was skipping a post-Thanksgiving breakfast with her family to get a head start on her Christmas shopping. Being the only one of her siblings who was out of high school, had a car, and enough disposable income to spend, nobody gave it much thought. Her father was even proud to see her going the extra mile to secure a good deal.

He might not have been that thrilled about how far she was willing to go to get the perfect Christmas present, but so long as the deal went through, her father never had to know the truth.

“For you, Dad…it’s worth it,” Stacy said under her breath.

At the heart of the deal was a pair of rare cufflinks, specifically the kind her grandfather wore during his days as a traveling salesman. After her grandfather passed away, and was subsequently buried with his cherished cufflinks, her father had tried to purchase a pair for himself. Unfortunately, the European jeweler who made them went out of business years ago and he could never find them.

It had been a point of frustration for years. Her father had been successful at so many things, but not finding a pair of those cufflinks really bothered him.

Stacy believed that getting him those cufflinks would be the greatest holiday gift she could give him. She’d been looking for a pair for the past three years, even as she built a business of her own. Finding them had only gotten more difficult over the years. Then, she found out through a friend of a friend that Max Dresden had a connection. That created an opportunity for a deal.

It was a simple deal and one she was uniquely qualified to make, despite having a limited budget and little time. It helped that Max was a simple man with basic needs, shallow tastes, and poor negotiating skills. If all went well, then they would both get something they wanted from the deal.

“So where are they?” Stacy asked.

“Right here, just like you asked,” Max said, tapping the pocket of his coat.

“Show me,” she said. “Keep in mind, my uncle is a jeweler. He taught me how to spot fakes.”

“Then, I guess it’s a good thing these are the real deal. That way, only one of us wasted our time.”

With a smug smirk, he reached into his coat pocket and pulled out a small velvet case. He held it up closely so that she could see when he opened it. Sure enough, the cufflinks were in there and they were the real deal.

Stacy had to temper her reaction. She’d seen plenty of pictures of the cufflinks. She’d even held the ones her grandfather had shortly before he died. When she reached out and felt the ones before her, it was like reconnecting with a part of her family’s past. She could only imagine how her father would react when he saw them.

“Wow!” Stacy said under her breath. “This is it. These are the cufflinks my father could never find.”

“Too bad his did dad wasn’t friends with some European art guy,” said Max, rolling his eyes. “I still don’t get why he gave me these things in the first place. It’s not like I enjoy wearing fancy suits as much as him.”

Stacy withheld her bemusement. It didn’t seem fair that someone like Max had a pair of rare cufflinks. He clearly didn’t appreciate them.

He didn’t appreciate a lot of things, it seemed. He was a spoiled rich kid who only worked menial jobs because his parents demanded it. A friend of hers even said that the only reason Max was working on Black Friday was because he dented the new Cadillac his father bought him for his senior year at college. It hardly seemed like a fair deal according to her business savvy, but that was Max’s problem. She had more pressing issues.

“Okay. They’re real. You’ve done your part, Max,” Stacy said.

“Does that mean you’re going to do yours?” he asked in a lecherous tone.

“Of course,” she said bluntly. “I organized this deal. I agreed to it. And if there’s one lesson my father and grandfather belabored over all others, it’s this…we honor our deals.”

True to her word – and much to Max’s excitement, as well – Stacy went about upholding her end.

She started by taking off her coat, revealing the somewhat undersized halter top that she only usually wore in the summer. Its small size ensured it showed a good part of her cleavage, of which she had plenty. It also revealed that she hadn’t worn a bra, which Max clearly noticed.

“No bra and no shirt,” he said. “I remember that part of the negotiation.”

“Of course, you do,” Stacy replied.

Without hesitation, she removed her shirt, rendering her naked from the waste up. The sight of her exposed breasts in the soft lighting of the break room earned her a larger smile from max. His excitement growing, he reached out to touch them. Stacy willingly let him. That was another part of the deal she remembered.

“Nice!” he said. “Those pics you sent didn’t do your tits justice. And here I was thinking you Photoshopped them.”

“Like I said, I honor my deals. That means I don’t deceive.”

Staying true to her word, Stacy let Max enjoy her breasts while she unzipped the back of her skirt and let it fall to the floor. That left her in only a black thong, which happened to be the same one she’d worn in the other sexy pictures she’d sent him while arranging their deal.

To ensure Max was sufficiently motivated, she had to offer more than a few gropes and some sexy imagery. He had to feel like he was getting more than what he got from his girlfriend or his porn stash. Given his reaction to feeling her breasts and seeing her exposed body, he had the face of a man who though he’d hit the jackpot.

“Damn! You look good naked too,” Max said. “Why isn’t a hottie like you in college?”

“Because some of us have goals that don’t involve getting a college degree on our rich daddy’s dime,” Stacy said, “but try not to think about that for the next few minutes. As of right now, I’m not just some girl looking to get her father the best Christmas gift ever. I’m just a hot young woman who’s willing to fuck you in a mall break room at four in the morning.”

Max replied with another lecherous grin. He was already so immersed in her breasts that she doubted the other particulars of the deal had crossed his mind. That was fine with her. It just made holding up her end that much easier.

After letting Max have fun with her breasts for a bit, she proceeded with the next step. She dropped to her knees, looking up at him with seductive eyes, pretending as though she were someone who did this kind of thing for free on Black Friday. While he looked back in anticipation, she undid his pants and pulled them down his waist. Touching her breasts had already gotten his blood flowing in the right directions. He already had a semi-hard boner dangling in front of her, which she saw as just another part of the deal.

“I see part of you is already in the holiday spirit,” Stacy said.

“Oh yes. I’m feeling very spirited!” Max chuckled.

Already sounding like the immature frat guy he was on non-holidays, Stacy channeled her own unique spirit for the moment. She narrowed her gaze on his dick, reached out with both hands, and went to work getting him ready for the final transaction.

She started by jerking him off a bit, getting him even harder and evoking a light gasp. Then, she used her breasts to tit-fuck him, placing his cock between her fleshy mounds and pressing them together around his growing member. Max responded with another blissful gasp. His legs growing weak, he leaned back against a nearby wall and gave her more room to work.

“Yeah! Use those tits! Work that cock!” he said.

Stacy didn’t need the extra motivation, but she used it anyway. She worked his cock between her breasts more vigorously, getting him harder by the second. Once she felt that he was near full arousal, she pulled back and took the next proverbial plunge.

“That got the holiday spirit flowing. This should make it stronger!” Stacy said intently.

She flashed him another sexy look, licking her lips and showing off the cherry-flavored lipstick that he’d requested in the negotiation. Then, still as motivated as ever to complete the deal, Stacy took his cock into her mouth and began sucking him off.

“Oohhh fuck!” Max gasped with delight. “Just when I’d forgotten how great blowjobs feel!”

That sounded like a brief slight as his girlfriend, which Stacy doubted he loved to any great extent. If she hadn’t been giving him blowjobs, then chances they were both looking for a reason to break up.

Not being in a relationship herself gave Stacy an advantage. She didn’t have to hold back while sucking Max off. She could be as dirty and sloppy as she wanted. She hadn’t had much of a sex life for the past several months, but she remembered how much her ex-boyfriend enjoyed blowjobs. She hadn’t forgotten how to make them good, either.

She channeled every ounce of oral sex experience since high school. Max told her not to half-ass it during the negotiations and she promised she wouldn’t. True to her word, Stacy licked along his shaft, twirled her tongue around the head, and made plenty of gargling noises. If Max watched as much porn as he claimed, he probably got off on those noises. In a vacant break room, every noise seemed to reverberate.

The results delivered exactly what she’d promised. It got Max fully aroused and fully erect. Stacy expected it to take longer, given the early morning hour and Max’s tendency to overstate his manliness. She didn’t complain, though. It just meant the next part would be that much easier.

“I remember you saying you didn’t want to pop off too soon,” she said while still stroking his cock. “You wanted to wait until you were fucking me.”

“You’re…a good listener, Stacy,” said Max, already breathless.

“I’m also a woman of my word,” Stacy told him, “and I intend to belabor that.”

As Max leaned back against the wall, Stacy kept stroking his dick to keep it hard. While in her grasp, she tactfully retrieved a condom from her purse, opened the package, and put it on his dick. Having had plenty of practice with her previous boyfriend, Max barely seemed to notice.

Once he was ready, she made some final preparations for herself. She rose up from the floor, slipped out of her panties, and stood before the horny frat boy fully naked. She let him take in the sight briefly before turning around, shaking her butt, and casting him another seductive glance.

“What are you waiting for, Max?” she asked him. “Come get the pussy I so willingly offered you in our deal.”

“God, I love the holidays,” he said with a goofy grin.

From there, Stacy let Max take care of business. He threw off his coat and stepped out of his pants, which had been around his ankles. He then grabbed her by the hips, bent her over a nearby table, and positioned himself behind her. He wasn’t rough, but he wasn’t overly tender, either. That didn’t bother Stacy. As long as they both got what they wanted, she didn’t mind his crude approach.

There was no teasing or technique to what happened next. As soon as Max aligned his rock-hard dick with her pussy, he thrust it right into her waiting folds. As his hard length penetrated her womanly depths, he let out a deep grunt that filled the room.

“Oohhh yeah! That pussy…so nice and tight!” Max grunted.

Stacy remained silent, holding onto the table and letting the horny frat boy do what he needed to do. All she had to do at that point was relax, close her eyes, and let basic sexuality do to the rest.

Max kept it fairly simple. After getting a feel for her pussy, he began rocking his hips back and forth, working his cock within her depths. He didn’t go too quickly. He try to overdo it or anything. He clearly wanted to enjoy it, as any horny young man would.

She even made an effort to enjoy it as well. She might not have been overly aroused or all that attracted to Max, but she knew how to get into a sexual mindset. She knew how to enjoy sex, even when it wasn’t that intimate. She’d even worked in a little lube before meeting up with Max earlier, just to make this part of the deal both easier and more enjoyable.

It was another one of her father’s useful deal-making tips. When both sides got to enjoy themselves, both come out feeling like they got more than they asked for. It also made them less inclined to screw each other over. Max might have been a shallow, immature college guy, but he had simple tastes and simpler needs.

“Simple needs…easy deals,” Stacy found herself saying under her breath at one point.

That ensured he didn’t drag the sex out for too long. He didn’t mix it up much, either. As he humped her from behind, he just occasionally squeezed her butt. A few times, he leaned over and fondled her swaying breasts as well. Stacy even threw in a few moans, which weren’t at all faked. Max might have been crude with his approach to sex, but at least knew how to touch a woman. That counted as a bonus in her book.

After a solid round of hard humping, Stacy sensed Max pick the pace up. She sensed he was close. He was just about ready to complete the deal, among other things.

“Fuck! Ohhh fuck! Ohhh man, I’m gonna pop off!” he gasped.

“Do it, Max. Enjoy it!” Stacy said.

He clearly didn’t need the added encouragement, but it kept him nicely motivated as he pushed himself over the edge.

He was a bit louder than she expected, letting out this heavy grunt as he hit his climax. He firmly grasped both sides of her hips, pushed his cock deeper into her pussy, and leaned back slightly as he got his release. She could even feel his member throbbing inside her in accord with his pleasure. She actually enjoyed that feeling, having not forgotten how much she missed regular sex. This might not have been the kind of sex that gave her multiple orgasms, but it still satisfied her in other ways.

“That should do it,” Stacy said. “That completes the deal!”

“Complete…right,” Max said breathlessly, sounding too content to care.

He lingered for a few moments, taking in every last ounce of pleasure from his orgasm. When he finally withdrew, he had to lean on a nearby chair for support. Stacy, showing that she still cared more than most savvy businesswomen, offered him a playful gesture. She even removed the condom for him and threw it in the nearby trash can.

“You got what you wanted, Max. And I got what I wanted,” she said proudly. “That’s the essence of the perfect deal.”

Without even putting her clothes back on, she reached into his discarded coat and retrieved the box with the cufflinks. She even opened it and held them in her hands again, reaffirming they were very real. Knowing now that they were hers and would be the best Christmas gift she ever got for her father, Stacy smiled as though she were the one who’d just had a good orgasm.

“I’d say it’s been a pleasure doing business with you, but…that might be too accurate,” Max said with an amused laugh.

“When it comes to great deals on Black Friday, there’s no such thing,” Stacy said, laughing as well as she gathered her clothes.

“It’s funny. When you first came to me, I just thought you were just some trashy girl in need of a bigger shopping budget…no offense,” he added.

“None taken,” she said, rolling her eyes.

“But this shit really matters to you,” he said in a more serious tone. “You really are a woman of your word. And you’re willing to do whatever to get the job done…including the sexy stuff. I may be a spoiled rich kid, but I totally respect that.”

Stacy cast him another amused grin, but still laughed with him. Max might have been a bit of a meathead, but he was honest and genuine. That counted for something in her book, just as much as upholding a deal meant a lot for her. Regardless of her willingness to employ sex as a negotiating tool, Stacy saw herself as a businesswoman above all else. She found deals. She made them. Most importantly, she honored them.

When it came to getting the best possible deal on this fateful Black Friday, she could safely say she’d come out satisfied.

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November 29, 2019 · 8:30 am

Getting (Back) Into Shape After Thanksgiving

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By now, with the Thanksgiving festivities over and the family gatherings complete, it’s finally sinking in. You realize just how much you ate and how much you’ve probably set back that New Years Resolution you made 11 months ago. If your Thanksgiving was as successful as mine, then it’s likely you feel as anxious as I do about what we just put our bodies through.

That’s not to say it was a bad thing. Thanksgiving is a holiday. You’re supposed to overeat, over-indulge, and forget every sound nutrition advice you ever got from your doctor. That’s part of what makes it special. At some point, however, you have to let go of the holiday spirit and get back to more responsible health habits.

It can be frustrating, tedious, and strenuous on so many levels. It’s still worth doing. Take it from someone who eats like a pig on the holidays and was out of shape for the first half of his life. You do feel a difference when you make an effort to get back into shape after Thanksgiving.

To that end, I’d like to share a few tips, along with some personal insights. Over the past few years, I’ve developed and refined my own method for getting back into healthier habits after a successful Thanksgiving. I’ve even developed my own unique workout routine.

Now, I’m not going to claim that this is one of those gimmicky fitness regiments that you see in infomercials and fitness magazines full of Photoshopped fitness models. What works for one person isn’t going to work for everyone. Everybody’s body is different. Everybody reacts to holiday gorging and exercise differently. There’s no one-size-fits-all approach to getting into shape, at least for now.

That said, there are many health benefits to exercise and staying in shape, especially after the holidays. It goes beyond just looking better naked and looking sexier at the beach in the summer. In some ways, the exercise you do after the holidays is even more rewarding and not just because you have more calories to burn.

You work hard on yourself to ensure you can indulge during the holidays. Like anything worth achieving, putting in the effort makes the end result more satisfying. I’ve certainly come to appreciate that effort and in the interest of helping those still digesting that extra slice of cheesecake, here is my personal process for getting into shape after Thanksgiving.

Step 1: Refocused Diet (That Makes Me Less Hungry)

Make no mistake. Diet is the hardest part of staying in shape.

There’s a popular saying that six-pack abs are made in the kitchen. That’s not just an adage. It’s true. How you eat is a major factor in how you look, feel, and conduct yourself in any effort related to your health. I know Thanksgiving tends to throw a wrench in any diet you might have maintained all year. I say that as someone who ate no fewer than three slices of cheesecake on Thanksgiving.

In a sense, Thanksgiving is the ultimate cheat day and one you should take advantage of. When that day is over, though, the key is less about eating less and more about eating right. What I mean by that is you should focus not on just eating fewer calories. The goal should be to feel less hungry.

That can be done without sheer will-power. It’s a fact that certain foods make you less hungry. Those foods are often high in fiber and protein, including things like eggs, nuts, and whole wheat bread. You don’t have to eat much of those to feel full. Most of my post-Thanksgiving meals consist of chicken, mixed vegetables, and eggs. Much of it comes from frozen meals which aren’t that expensive.

On top of that, I ditch soda and drink mainly water or black coffee. That helps keep sugar intake to a minimum. While it’s difficult to cut sugar out completely, especially after enjoying so many holiday desserts, it is important to limit it. Whether it’s your coffee or your snacks, it’s the sugar that’ll make you feel hungry and keep you from feeling energized.

I usually dedicate the first two weeks after Thanksgiving to sticking to my diet. I make sure most of my meals involve chicken, eggs, and vegetables. I do keep a cheat day for which I will indulge a little, but I try to usually make those first two weeks the most important. Get through that and you’ll be back into less festive eating habits, at least until Christmas.

Step 2: My Workout Routine

This part is somewhat easier for me because I love working out. I know that’s not a feeling everyone has, especially if they’ve never been big on going to the gym. I understand that. I too used to resent going to the gym. When I started taking my health more seriously, it became part of my routine. Now, I get upset when I can’t go.

My routine isn’t on par with an Olympic athlete or body builder. I also wouldn’t call it easy, either. You will get winded and sore from my workout, but only to a point. It will get the job done, though. I know this because it has helped keep my weight stable, even after holidays. I can also see my abs, biceps, and leg muscles too, which is a nice touch.

My workout isn’t all about going to the gym, either. In fact, I usually go to a gym at least twice a week. That’s as much as I can squeeze in. On days I don’t go, I still work out. It’s just usually involves something different. For that reason, I’ll separate my workout from my gym days from my non-gym days. With that in mind, here’s my routine.

On my gym day, I start by running at least 3.5 miles on a treadmill or outside, if the weather permits it.

I then do a series of weight training with either machines or free weights that include 4 sets of 12 reps of the following:

  • Bicep curls
  • Tricep curls
  • Butterfly chest
  • Shoulder pull-downs/extensions
  • Ab crunches
  • Leg lifts
  • Leg press

In general, this whole routine takes a little over an hour. I’ll also mix it up at times, either by doing the weight training first and then doing cardio at the end. I’ll also sometimes exchange the treadmill for an elliptical, which is easier on my feet and gives a better workout for my legs. If you have knee or foot problems, I highly recommend using an elliptical.

For days when I don’t go to the gym or can’t make it, I try to go running. Most of the time, it’s around the block. I try to run for at least 30 minutes, sometimes longer. In addition, I’ll also do 100 sit-ups, followed by 100 squats in my bedroom. This keeps those muscles strong and gets my heart rate going to burn extra calories.

I also reserve one day of the week for rest. Usually, it’s Wednesday. That’s not just a cheat day, either. It’s critical that you rest your body, even if you’re doing a modest workout routine. I’ve tried going 7 days a week a few times. I often end up hurting myself or making myself too sore to work out for extended periods. Don’t learn that lesson the hard way. Leave one day for rest. Your body will thank you.

Step 3: Staying Focused (Until Christmas)

I know it’s easy to encourage diet and exercise as a means to get back into shape, especially after a holiday like Thanksgiving. Most people can even make the effort for the first couple days after Thanksgiving, just like they do in the first few days after New Year’s when they promise themselves they’ll get into shape.

In the same way people tend to break their New Year’s Resolution, they’ll often break their post-Thanksgiving resolution and it doesn’t help that there’s another major holiday right afterwards. Christmas, with all its sugar cookies and candy canes, adds plenty of temptation to the mix and it’s not easy to resist. I don’t deny that for a second.

That’s why the most critical aspect of getting into shape after Thanksgiving involves focus. By that, I don’t just mean keeping a schedule. One reason why it’s so easy to slip back into unhealthy habits is because the holidays can be overwhelming. You find yourself wanting to just stop, take it easy, and let everything slow down.

However, the holidays don’t slow down, especially as Christmas gets closer. If anything, it makes things even more stressful. When you’re stressed out, you’re less inclined to exercise. You’re also more inclined to reach for those sugary holiday treats. It can quickly become a self-reinforcing cycle that’ll leave you even less healthy than you were after Thanksgiving.

The best way to combat this is to maintain focus. One of the benefits of having other holidays after Thanksgiving is that it offers plenty of distractions. When you’re distracted, you’re less likely to eat and slack off. Use that to your advantage.

Sometimes, it means going shopping or just hanging out with friends more often. It also can involve things like preparing holiday decorations and preparing gift lists. It may not always be productive, but if it keeps you from slipping into that ugly self-reinforcing cycle, then it has merit.

I hope these tips help with everyone still digesting their Thanksgiving treats. There’s a time and a place for indulgence and the holidays are definitely one of them. However, it’s for that reason that we make the time in between as productive and healthy as possible. As a result, it helps make the holidays feel more special in the end.

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November 28, 2019 · 8:42 am

“Leftover Loving” A Sexy Short Story (For Thanksgiving)

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The following is a sexy short story centered around love, Thanksgiving, and all things sexy. Whether you’re just about to eat or still digesting dessert, I hope this helps boost your holiday spirit, among other things. Enjoy!

“I’m so thankful that you and your family could join us this year, Kari.”

“So am I, Mrs. Zale…more than I can possibly put into words.”

That heartfelt toast had capped off a very filling, very successful Thanksgiving dinner for Karianne Kayden. It was led by Erica Zale, the mother of her childhood friend turned high school sweetheart, Jeremy Zale. It made real something she thought she’d never experience again…a happy Thanksgiving feast.

Having just experienced it over the course of a very memorable Thanksgiving, Kari felt many emotions boil to the surface. She’d held back tears when Jeremy’s mother made that toast. She held back even more when her mother, a woman who’d spent the last three years recovering from a bitter divorce, stood up and hugged her friend and former college roommate. It was a powerful moment and one Kari still hadn’t processed.

“Being thankful on Thanksgiving again,” Kari pondered under her breath, “I almost forgot what it felt like. Just when I thought I’d never feel it again.”

She’d been in a festive daze since dessert at the Zale family home was served an hour ago. Long before that, she’d arrived at the house with her mother, her two older brothers, and her mother’s sister with a broken holiday spirit. She expected Jeremy and his extended family to go the extra mile to make Thanksgiving special for them, but she had no idea they’d succeed so wonderfully.

Three years ago – and on Thanksgiving, no less – Kari’s family and her world came crashing down. Even before that fateful day, it had been a poorly kept secret that her parents had a rocky relationship. They’d met in college and started a business together shortly after graduating. While the business was successful, it did not improve their marriage in the slightest. Over the years, they drifted further and further apart, leading to many heated fights and simmering resentment.

Jeremy and his family knew the details more than most. His mother had been friends with hers throughout that tumultuous relationship. It was part of why she and Jeremy spent so much time together as kids. It was their way of keeping her away from all the upheavals in her family. The sources of tension were many, ranging from disagreements over business dealings to alleged affairs that her father had with his female colleagues. Everyone from Jeremy to her older brothers tried to hide it from her, but they could only hide so much.

Kari didn’t have to know all the sordid details to know that her parents should’ve gotten divorced years ago. The only reason they stayed together was because of her and her siblings. In hindsight, that might have been a mistake and one that earned her the brunt of the drama. Both her older brothers moved out and went to colleges in other states as soon as they could. That left her alone in a house with resentful parents for six years of her teenage life.

Finally, it all collapsed on a fateful Thanksgiving morning. Her father and mother had their worst fight to date. It got so bad that her mother threw the turkey he’d been making out the window and her father took a baseball bat to the TV, stove, and dining room. He left the house after that and hadn’t been welcome back since.

“After that, how could I ever have a holiday spirit?” Kari wondered.

She ate chips and leftover tuna for Thanksgiving that year. The next day, her mother filed for divorce. She claimed that her and her father thought she’d been in the basement during that fight, but Kari suspected that was just her way of saving face. Both she and her father even admitted they hurt her the most by staying together longer than they should’ve. They each spent the next three years trying to heal the scars they’d left.

Time, therapy, and living in a house with less fighting helped, but Kari didn’t think she’d ever enjoy Thanksgiving again. Around that same time, however, her friendship with Jeremy changed. They went from a couple of long-time friends to something deeper. He’d been instrumental in helping her deal with her parents’ divorce. It seemed inevitable, yet fitting that they’d develop deeper feelings for one another.

Now, as she sat next to him on the couch, curled up to his side and resting her head on his shoulder, Kari marveled at how much those feelings had blossomed. Thanks to him, his mother, and their amazing effort to make the holidays feel special again, she felt so grateful to have him in her life.

“You get enough desert, Kari?” he asked, having just finished a piece of his father’s legendary cheesecake.

“I got plenty. Thank you,” Kari replied, still hiding the sea of emotions in her voice.

“You sure? Because you know you’re older brothers are going to eat the rest and fight anyone who tries to stop them,” Jeremy said, half-jokingly.

“Let them have it. They needed this as much as me.”

“But you needed it more,” he pointed out. “Even your mother agrees. You were due a perfect Thanksgiving.”

He lovingly kissed the side of her forehead and held her closer. He then watched with her as his parents, her mother, her older brothers, and Jeremy’s extended family gathered around the TV to watch the second half of the last Thanksgiving football game.

It was getting late. Some of his youngest cousins were already asleep in other rooms. Her older brothers, along with his aunts and uncles, were also somewhat tipsy after multiple servings of beer and wine. Her mother was sober, but Kari hadn’t seen her that happy in years. She and Jeremy’s mother stayed close on the other side of the room, laughing together like the good friends they were.

It was such a joyous, festive environment. They’d spent all day just hanging out, enjoying each other’s company, and feasting on a veritable buffet of Thanksgiving classics. It was everything Thanksgiving was supposed to be and everything she hadn’t experienced for years. The fact that it was almost over and hadn’t gone horribly wrong wasn’t just refreshing. It overwhelmed Kari in an unexpected way.

“Hey,” Jeremy said, noticing her disposition, “is everything okay?”

Kari felt his concerned gaze on her. She couldn’t hide the tears forming in her eyes. She turned towards him, if only to hide them from everyone else. When she looked at him, he just held her closer while caressing her face, looking at her with the love and concern she’d come to treasure.

At that moment, Kari came to a powerful realization. Thanksgiving was almost over. It had gone better than anything she could’ve hoped for, but there was still one way to make it truly special.

“You’re half-right, Jeremy,” she told him. “I was due. I needed something like this so much. My whole family did.”

“So why do you look like you’re about to burst into tears?” he asked with more concern.

“Because it’s not perfect yet,” Kari said, “but I know how to make it perfect.”

He cast her a curious gaze. Then, while everyone else was distracted by the game on the TV, she whispered into his ear.

“Make love to me,” she said to him. “Take me upstairs into your room and make love to me.”

Jeremy reacted with minor shock, but managed to hide it from their mothers and the rest of the family. His shock gave way to intrigue as soon as he realized how serious she was. Still holding her close, he leaned in and whispered back.

“Would that make this Thanksgiving perfect for you?” he asked her.

“Yes,” Kari said, without hesitation. “It would.”

“That’s all I needed to know.”

What unfolded next felt like an early Christmas miracle. Her wonderfully cunning boyfriend took her hand in his and with the utmost subtly, rose up from the couch with her. Nobody else in the living room noticed. Even their moms remained distracted. Between the multiple glasses of wine and the laughter from reminiscing their college years, they weren’t inclined to notice.

Carrying himself like nothing was amiss, he led her out of the living room, through the kitchen, and into the foyer. Along the way, he cast her a sneaky grin and pressed his finger to his lips, encouraging more cunning as they neared the stairs. Kari got the message and smiled back. She didn’t even make eye contact with Jeremy’s cousins, who were in the den playing video games.

As soon as they reached the stairs, the need for subtlety and stealth faded. Once they were out of sight from parents and relatives, Jeremy moved with more urgency. He even gave her hand a firm squeeze, as if to let her know she could stop hiding it. Like a dam starting to crack, those feelings she’d barely managed all day started to come out.

“We’re really doing this,” Kari said. “You’re really this dedicated to making this day perfect.”

“Of course, I am,” Jeremy replied. “You’re my girl. How could I do any less?”

Kari swore she could’ve married him right there in the middle of the stairwell. She managed to hold off on wedding plans just long enough to follow him to the top of the stairs and down the hall to his bedroom.

It was the same bedroom they’d hung out in many times before, both as kids and as lovers. Typically, she and Jeremy never got intimate in his bedroom when his parents were in the house. It was an unwritten rule, but one they’d never broken since they first got together. That was about to change.

“Kari,” Jeremy said, already short of breath as they stood in his bedroom doorway, “before we go any further, I need to know this will be enough.”

“Enough for what?” she asked. “I already told you this will make this day perfect.”

“It’s not just that. I need to know that this will finally do it. This will help you enjoy Thanksgiving and the holidays once again. I’m serious. I want that for you. I’ve seen how sad and miserable you’ve been during this time of year. I want that to end…and I want to help end it.”

Kari’s emotions temporarily muted her voice. Standing in her lover’s arms, looking into those wonderfully sincere eyes of his, she was once again at a loss. She already knew she was in love with Jeremy, but this moment proved that this was no teenage crush.

Their love was real. Jeremy wasn’t just some guy who got her heart and hormones racing. He wanted to make her life better than it had been. He wanted to share his life with hers. Inviting her family to join his on Thanksgiving was a grand gesture that helped mend her wounded holiday spirit. Even after everything he’d done, he still had enough love to offer one more.

“Jeremy,” Kari said, finally finding her voice, “three years ago, I didn’t think it was possible to enjoy the holidays again. I almost accepted that the painful memories of that day would never leave me.”

“Almost?” he questioned.

“I held out a faint sliver of hope that would one day change,” she said. “I can’t tell you how close I came to losing it. But then you had to be there for me…to help me, hold me, and love me.”

“And I still here,” he said. “I want to keep being there for you.”

“Then help me make a new memory for this holiday…a great memory to cap off a wonderful Thanksgiving with my wonderful boyfriend.”

A heavy silence fell over them. More tears formed in Kari’s eyes, but Jeremy gently wiped them away. He didn’t need to say another word. He looked convinced. There were plenty of other things Kari wanted to tell him after three years of heart-wrenching melodrama, but there was only so much she could put into words.

Tonight, in the spirit of the holidays, she preferred to let her actions do the talking.

“Okay,” he said to her, breaking the silence. “Consider this the ultimate nightcap to a new Thanksgiving tradition…one I hope to share for many years to come.”

“Now, you’re rousing my holiday spirit and making me horny,” she said, managing a joyous smile through the heartfelt tears.

“What can I say? When it comes to loving my girl on the holidays, I like to multitask!”

The mood lightened, but the passions intensified. There were no more reservations. She and Jeremy were going to make love in the waning hours of Thanksgiving.

Having embraced that holiday spirit, Jeremy drew her into a kiss and led her into his bedroom. As soon as he kicked the door shut, their affectionate gestures escalated. The kiss became more heated. As their lips and tongues twirled together, they pawed and caressed one another within their tight embrace. It loosened their clothes while communicating their growing desire.

Before her legs failed her, Jeremy lifted her up in his arms and laid her down on his bed with the utmost care. He quickly joined her atop the soft sheets, but not before slipping his shirt off over his head and removing his belt. When he kissed her again, she pawed his exposed flesh more eagerly, heightening the intimacy every step of the way.

From such intimate contact came more targeted arousal. The heat that started in her heart had found its way to her inner thighs. In the midst of all the kissing and touching, she began undressing as well and Jeremy, like a true gentleman, helped out every step of the way.

“Off! My clothes…get them off!” Kari said.

There was an urgency in her tone. She’d never approached intimacy with such desperation. Even on their prom night, which also happened to be the first time they had sex, she hadn’t been this driven. The circumstances of this fateful Thanksgiving were very different.

Regardless of those differences, Jeremy matched her intensity every step of the way. He worked on getting her pants off while she removed her shirt and bra. They fumbled around a bit, ruffling her hair and messing up the sheets of his bed. That didn’t stop her from getting everything off in record time.

Almost immediately after tossing her panties aside, Kari pulled her lover back into her arms. The feeling of her exposed breasts pressing up against his bear chest triggered more arousal. It also prompted her to get Jeremy as naked as her.

“Kari…my pants,” he said, already breathless.

“Here, allow me,” she said seductively.

With more care and coordination this time, Kari rolled Jeremy over so that he was on his back. Even in the low lighting of his room, she could see a noticeable bulge in his pants. Rather than tease or tempt him, as she often did in the other passionate moments they’d shared, she pulled his pants and boxers off as quickly as her trembling hands allowed. Once off, she tossed them across the room into the pile of wrinkled-up clothes that had accumulated on the bed.

For a brief moment, Kari caught her breath with him as they renewed their heated embrace. Sitting upright in the center of the bed, the air around them thick with desire passion, she gazed into his eyes with a fresh round of simmering emotions. Now unencumbered by clothes, she could feel the full extent of his naked body against hers.

Arousal quickly caught up with their desires. Kari could already feel his manhood pressing up against her thigh, becoming hard and rigid. She made sure he knew how wet she was, guiding his hands over her waist and hips. As he took in the moment with her, she wrapped both arms around his neck and soaked in his loving warmth. She sensed their arousal catching up with

“Jeremy,” she said, “I want this…for me and for us.”

“I want it too,” Jeremy said, his voice laced with desire. “God, I want it so much.”

“Then, in the spirit of Thanksgiving, let’s share it!”

He cast her a beaming smile. It was the perfect sentiment for the perfect day. As much as she’d come to revile that same day in the past three years, Kari saw a clear sign in the eyes of her lover. Her attitude towards Thanksgiving was about to change.

“Share it,” Jeremey repeated in an impassioned, “now, that’s the mark of a renewed holiday spirit!”

She smiled back at him. From there, they followed their passions and a new kind of holiday magic took over.

Jeremy set the tone. He kissed her again, pulled back the sheets of his bed, and led her into the soft linens in which they could nurture an intimate heat. A brief, but heated make-out session followed.

As their lips and tongues became affectionately enmeshed, they touched and explored their naked features. Jeremy felt up her hips, fondled her breasts, and gave her nipples light pinches, which he knew she loved. She returned the favor by rubbing her thigh against his penis and softly trailing her fingers down his back, tickling and tantalizing him to build towards their final union.

That moment came sooner than expected. She and Jeremy were usually inclined to draw out the foreplay. They’d learned on their prom night that they really enjoyed the touching and making out portion of sex. Tonight, however, was different. There was no need to draw it out. Her heart, body, and soul were ready and so was his.

“Jeremy…take me,” she gasped as they got into position.

“Kari…” was all he got out in response.

Like two primal forces being drawn together, she and Jeremy aligned their bodies in anticipation. He remained on top while she remained on her back, spreading her legs and drawing him into her most intimate domain. She could already feel his member pressing up against the outer folds of her womanhood. She’d never wanted to share herself so complete with another human being.

Finally, in the spirit of giving and thanks, her love entered her.

“Oohhh God!” Kari gasped.

In an instant, their bodies merged in literal and figurative melding of passions. He was gentle and careful, as always. He guided his length into her, allowing her folds to stretch and engulf his manly flesh. As soon as their union was complete, the next phase of their holiday miracle commenced.

“I’m so thankful, Kari…thankful for our love,” Jeremy said to her.

“Thankful indeed!” she said with joyous moans.

Their bodies began moving.

Her world began rocking.

Male and female flesh became entwined at its most basic level.

She and Jeremy were officially making love. The heavy emotions that had led to this moment gave way to simpler feelings. They kissed, touched, and caressed as their sexual union morphed into a traditional lover’s dance.

Jeremy started things off slow, working his hips and pelvis to get a rhythm going. As Kari felt his dick slither smoothly inside her vagina, she supplemented his efforts every step of the way. She wrapped her legs around his waist, lifting her hips slightly in conjunction with every thrust. With each movement, sensations of ecstasy cascaded between them. The intangible warmth of Jeremy’s love mixed in with the very tangible sensations that came from their intimate act. It was as beautiful as it was pleasurable.

“Jeremy! Oohhh Jeremy! My love…so thankful,” Kari gasped

Encouraged, as well as impassioned, her lover intensified the pace of their sex. He moved with more urgency, working his body with hers at rate that rocked the bed as hard as it rocked her world. She met that intensity every step of the way, showering him with affectionate gestures and loving kisses.

From there, a perfect harmony of passions unfolded. Kari’s affectionate gestures and loving embrace perfectly complemented Jeremy focused desire and physical efforts. It felt so effortless and seamless, as though their bodies had been perfectly molded to complete one another. Every touch, thrust, and caress brought with it a fresh round of hot sensations, fanning the flames of lust that further empowered the love that fueled it.

As they shared in this harmonious dance, they dared to have a little fun. A moment that had been built on three years of holiday heartache suddenly became a joyous celebration. Under the now-ruffled sheets of the bed, they rolled together like the two reckless youths they still were at heart. She and Jeremy even laughed together as their lovemaking manifested in various forms and positions. They’d learned early on that there was no wrong way to make love. They simply followed the various whims and let their bodies keep up.

Between three years of lingering emotional burdens and energy from a holiday feast, Kari dared Jeremy to make their lovemaking last. As he often did, he rose to the occasion. He stayed with her in the moment, building towards a climax they could share and cherish together. When that moment finally came, she decided to offer one last holiday miracle.

“Jeremy…I’m ready,” Kari whispered into his ear as she neared her peak.

“Me…too,” her lover said, already panting heavily.

“Then, lie back. Let’s share…this final holiday treat…together!”

For the final push, they re-arranged their bodies one last time. This time, Jeremy laid on his back while Kari got on top of him. From that position, with their intimate flesh still entwined, she rode her lover with a focused vigor.

As she gyrated her hips, working his rigid flesh within her depths, she took his hands and enlaced their fingers together. In the dim lighting of the room, their eyes locked. Kari saw his loving eyes looking up at her while she rode him. She gazed back down at him with equal affection, as if to synchronize their passions for that final moment.

When that moment came, it was like the final miracle to complete this very special holiday.

“Ohhh Jeremy!” she cried out.

“Kari! Ohhh God!” Jeremy moaned.

It hit them both like a bolt of heavenly bliss. It was hard to tell who climaxed first, but Kari was fairly certain she got the shared ecstasy going.

As the orgasmic rush consumed her, she squeezed her lover’s hands and held them close to her chest. Within her core, a fireball of bliss erupted and spread out in all direction, rippling through every fiber of her being.

As Kari trembled under the weight of the feeling, she felt her lover descend into an orgasmic state of his own. She watched as his face became awash with ecstasy, his lower body tensing in accord with his release. She could feel his manly flesh throbbing inside her as their intimate fluids mixed together in a physical manifestation of their love. It turned an intangible sentiment into something real, like a gift they could cherish every Thanksgiving they shared together from that point forward.

“I love you, Jeremy,” she said, still holding his hands in hers.

“I love you too, Kari,” he said to her. “I hope you had a Happy Thanksgiving.”

“I did, my love! I really, really did!”

The miracle was complete. No more words or sentiments were necessary. As they lingered together in their post-coital daze, Kari gave her lover one last affectionate kiss. It acted as the final dessert for a truly special holiday.

Now drained, physically as well as emotionally, Kari and Jeremy settled in for some much-needed rest. She remained under the covers with him, curled up in his loving warmth, taking in the grandeur of what she’d just shared with her lover.

“I’m so thankful for this…for everything,” she said as she prepared to nod off with her lover.

Three years ago, Kari thought Thanksgiving had been permanently tainted. Her family was broken. Her heart was broken. Her entire world seemed to be falling apart before her eyes. It was the lowest of low points. She thought she would never recover.

Now, three years later, that all changed. Thanks to the love of her family and a very special man in Jeremy Zale, her heart and her holiday spirit had never been stronger. For that, she would always be thankful.

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November 27, 2019 · 6:59 am

Jack Fisher’s Weekly Quick Pick Comic: Invisible Woman #5

Certain characters are held to very high standards. That’s especially true of superheroes. Not all heroes can or should be judged with the same criteria. Wolverine can go on a rage-fueled killing spree, lust after married women, and drunk a gallon of whiskey a day, but still get labeled a hero. That’s because he’s held to a different, albeit very lenient standard.

That sort of standard just can’t work for a character like Sue Richards. Aside from being a hero, she carries herself very differently from the likes of Wolverine, Tony Stark, and Black Widow. She’s not a career assassin, a playboy billionaire, or some cosmic tyrant. She’s a hero, a role model, a loving wife, and a caring mother. She knows who she is and cherishes that identity.

That same identity has been tested, strained, and pushed in her latest solo series, courtesy of writer Mark Waid. We’ve seen her revisit an old part of her life that almost took her down a very different path, one that would not have met those lofty standards ascribed to heroes like her and teams like the Fantastic Four. In “Invisible Woman #5,” she comes dangerously close to crossing lines she swore to never cross.

It’s the end of a story that has taken Sue Richards away from her family and her life of wild cosmic adventures. Instead of battling planet-eating cosmic beings, she navigates the shady world of espionage. By the end, it’s easy to see why she prefers battling Galactus.

At first, the mission was simple. Sue set out to find a former friend and partner, Aidan Tintreach. As is often the case in stories involving spies, espionage, and beautiful women, it gets exceedingly complicated very fast. Along the way, Waid explores just how capable Sue is on her own. She’s one of those characters who is often defined by her team and her family. She rarely gets a chance to show what she can do by herself.

As a spy, Aidan saw that potential in her. Throughout the series, he has forced her to realize it in ways that don’t always sit well. Initially, it was as an ally and someone in need of her help. The events leading up to “Invisible Woman #5” steadily revealed the kind of person he became. He now has Sue in a position to become that same person.

True to the high heroic standards that she holds for herself, Sue never stops trying to save her former partner. She keeps trying to reconnect with the man she once knew. At every turn, however, Aidan keeps shooting holes in their history and her faith in him. It puts Sue in a difficult position in “Invisible Woman #5,” one for which she can’t play by the same rules that help make her an iconic hero.

What starts as a rescue is now an unfolding tragedy and it comes dangerously close to becoming much worse. At this point, there’s no more room for betrayals and secrets. Sue has to confront Aidan, who at this point has a death wish. However, rather than poke the Hulk’s eye or kick a puppy in front of the Punisher, he wants Sue to be the one to stop him.

He seems so far gone, but Waid never paints Aidan as someone who has just lost their mind. He’s not the Joker, the Green Goblin, or a villain from a James Bond movie. He’s just someone who has crossed so many lines over the year as a spy, lying and betraying everyone along the way, that there’s no standard left to judge him. As a character and someone who used to ally himself with superheroes, he’s gone morally numb.

At times, Aidan comes off as a dark mirror for Sue. In him, she sees what she could’ve become if she’d remained a spy. He is living proof of what happens when you’re held to a high standard, but cross too many lines. It makes what Sue has to do to stop him feel so dramatic and impactful.

Along the way, she has to push herself and her powers in ways we rarely see outside of trips to the Negative Zone. Artist Mattia de Iulis does an excellent job showing off what Sue can do when she needs to use her powers creatively. The visuals make clear that, even without her family, Sue is very powerful.

Anyone who has read more then one Fantastic Four comic knows that. However, seeing her powers applied in such unique ways helps demonstrate what Aidan sees in her. If she held herself to a different standard, she could be a true force to be reckoned with and not just as a spy.

Between de Iulis’ renderings and Waid’s characterization, “Invisible Woman #5” shows the Fantastic Four’s perennial mother figure in a new light. We get to see glimpses of her past before she became this iconic hero that we hold to such lofty standards. We also see how her approach to heroism differs from those who immerse themselves in situations where heroes and villains alike have to lie, cheat, and deceive.

It’s not one of those stories in which Sue can rely on her family, teamwork, or her inherently endearing personality to save the day. She has to face down someone who ventured into the same shady world, but came out far worse. It’s not the kind of situations that Sue often finds herself in with the Fantastic Four, but “Invisible Woman #5” shows that she can handle it, albeit with a heavy heart.

In the end, that same heart is exactly why Sue Richards holds herself to such high standards. It’s the same reason why her heroism is judged by such a strict criteria compared to other characters in the greater Marvel pantheon. When she does have to cross a line, it breaks her heart, as it would for anyone who hasn’t been too hardened by circumstance.

The fact that there are still characters like Sue Richards, who hold onto those values and refuse to cross certain lines, is nothing short of refreshing. In an age where we expect heroes, celebrities, icons, and leaders to cross lines all the time, a hero like Invisible Woman stands out for all the right reasons.

 

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November 26, 2019 · 6:03 am

A Memorable (And Funny) Thanksgiving Story About My Ex-Girlfriend

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It’s that time of year again. The holidays are almost upon us and we’re at the point where we can no longer complain about people putting their decorations up too early. It’s a wonderful, festive time. I’ve always loved the holidays. I’m usually among the first to put my decorations up, much to the chagrin of family and friends.

The holidays often bring out the best in people. You don’t have to look too hard for examples of that. Some of my fondest family memories have occurred over the holidays. I’ve even shared a few of them. With Thanksgiving just a few days away, I’d like to share another. Once again, it involves my ex-girlfriend.

I’ve shared stories about her before and, by and large, I’ve tried to show her in a positive light. I really enjoyed my time with her while we were together. I’m not at all bitter that we didn’t work out. I like to think that she feels the same way. A few years after we broke up, I found out that she got married and is genuinely happy. I hope I can one day say the same.

This particular story, however, highlights a moment that she doesn’t remember that fondly. As it just so happens, that moment unfolded when she visited my area for Thanksgiving. While I still think it’s funny, I doubt she’ll agree. At the same time, I think she would laugh as well when recalling the details.

It actually occurred after we’d been together for a while. She’d visited my place before. She’d met my family and got along with them quite well. My family is wonderful, warm, and welcoming as a whole, especially around the holidays. We definitely got that point across during previous visits. In hindsight, it might have set the stage for what happened next.

It was the day after Thanksgiving. Typically, after the big meal, we get together with a few relatives and family friends for another gathering not far from where my parents live. It wasn’t as big or crowded as Thanksgiving dinner. It was mostly an excuse for other relatives to meet up, make more food, and catch up after however many months it had been since our last gathering.

While driving her there, I gave her a few details about this side of my family. There weren’t too many caveats or taboos to warn her about. That was a good thing too because she didn’t have much of a filter. She said what was on her mind and did things her own way. That was part of what attracted me to her. Knowing this, I still made one thing clear to her before we arrived.

Do NOT try and pet the cat. He will scratch you and not in a cute way.

I must have told her that at least three times. I was dead serious too. This particular house had a rather notorious cat that a close relative had been caring for. I know cats aren’t known for being social creatures, but this one was a special kind of mean. He didn’t like anyone, except for those who regularly fed him.

I’d seen this cat attack more than a few friends and relatives who didn’t heed that warning. I knew it would be tricky for my ex-girlfriend because she loves animals. She had a pet of her own back home and she never missed an opportunity to interact with them, especially if they were cute. I urged her to make an exception this time. I even tried to distract her from the cat once we arrived.

It was no use. Shortly after we sat down for dinner, the cat wandered near the table. My ex-girlfriend saw him and just couldn’t resist. I warned her again. I told her not to go near him. She didn’t listen. To no one’s surprise, including my own, the cat scratched her the moment she tried to pet him. He scratched her pretty good too. It required a band aid and ointment.

Naturally, she was not happy. While I helped tend to her hand, I couldn’t stop laughing. She thought she could coax some affection out of that cat. I admired her confidence, her heart, and her bravery. It still wasn’t enough.

Much to her credit, she scolded herself more than she scolded me. After all, I did warn her multiple times. She just chose not to listen. She avoided the cat for the rest of the visit. I’m pretty sure that was the first time she despised an otherwise adorable animal. It was jarring and it did affect her mood for the rest of the day.

She still got over it. She even joked about it the next day. It might not have been the most romantic moment we shared during her visit, but it definitely made Thanksgiving more memorable, albeit for unusual reasons.

Moments like that are part of what make the holidays special. They’re also moments that make relationships special, even if they don’t work out. I’m certain that if I ever crossed paths with my ex again, I could tell her the name of that cat and she would remember. She might not remember it as fondly as I do, but I think she’d still laugh at it.

One day, when I meet the love of my life, I hope to make many memories like that. I also hope plenty of them occur on Thanksgiving, but I think I could do without asshole cats.

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November 25, 2019 · 5:59 am

Vision, the Scarlet Witch, and the MCU’s Romance Problem

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Trying to find flaws in the Marvel Cinematic Universe these days is like trying to find a flaw in Mr. Rogers. It’s pretty much impossible, unless you’re willing to be exceedingly petty. Even the most ardent critic can’t deny the success of this now iconic cinematic universe. Such a franchise doesn’t make over $7 billion at the box office by having many egregious flaws.

That said, the MCU is not without its shortcomings and I’m not just talking about underperforming outliers like “The Incredible Hulk” or outright failures like “Inhumans.” One such shortcoming, which I feel has not had sufficient scrutiny, has to do with romance in the MCU. As someone who is a lifelong comic book fan and an admitted romantic, this stands out to me more than most.

It only became more apparent with the upcoming a TV series starring Vision and the Scarlet Witch on the Disney+ streaming service. The romance fan and the comic book fan in me initially liked that idea because Vision and the Scarlet Witch are one of the Avenger’s most endearing and colorful romances in the comics. This is definitely one of those relationships that can carry an entire show.

However, given that this takes place in the MCU, the concept is already on a shaky foundation. While the events of “Avengers: Infinity War” established that these two characters are romantically involved, there’s little in terms of how that relationship developed. As a result, the tragedy that played out in the Battle of Wakanda had little dramatic weight.

It’s one of the few glaring flaws in an otherwise stellar narrative. However, the lack of romantic depth between Vision and the Scarlet Witch is only the most obvious symptom of a much larger problem that has been unfolding in the MCU since the days of “Iron Man” and “Thor.”

Some parts of that problem are pure logistics. Building a cinematic universe on the scale of the MCU requires a lot of moving parts and, as a result, romance was often a secondary concern. Kevin Feige and the creative minds at Marvel Studios opted to prioritize other aspects of character development. Given the MCU’s unprecedented winning streak, it’s safe to say those priorities were well-placed.

It’s only recently that the lack of emphasis on romance has caught up to the MCU. From having Thor break up with Jane Foster prior to “Thor Ragnarok” to horribly mismatched romance between Hulk and Black Widow, there’s a glaring absence of successful, well-developed romances in the MCU.

Even the successful romances, namely Tony Stark and Pepper Pots or Ant Man and Wasp, had much of that success unfold off-screen. At most, a movie would show them getting together or enduring a major conflict, but there would rarely be any moments that fleshed out the romance in a meaningful way. Every bit of development only centered around defeating a villain, which is good catalyst for romance, but not much else.

Now, we’re getting an entire show about a couple who were on opposite sides of the conflict in “Captain America: Civil War” and inexplicably together in “Avengers: Infinity War.” In terms of meaningful romance, this is not a trivial oversight. If someone didn’t know their romantic history in the comics, then they would be understandably confused as to why they ended up together.

Not seen here is ANY hint that these two have been flirting.

It’s the same problem that the original “X-Men” movies made when developing the horribly flawed love triangle between Cyclops, Jean Grey, and Wolverine. The narrative in the movies relied too heavily on assuming peoples’ knowledge of the source material in lieu of providing an understandably reason as to why this romance is occurring. Again, that’s not a trivial oversight.

How is anyone who only saw “Captain America: Civil War” and “Avengers: Infinity War” supposed to buy into the relationship between Vision and the Scarlet Witch? The movies only establish that they’re together. They don’t establish why, how, or what they went through in establishing their relationship. Everyone is just left to assume, which is rarely a good strategy for developing meaningful romance.

Even if the relationship between Vision and the Scarlet Witch were entirely platonic, it would still be quite a stretch to believe that they have a genuinely intimate connection. It’s possible that the upcoming show will help develop that connection, but there’s no getting around how underdeveloped it has been to this point.

The same could be said for other relationships throughout the MCU. Some are so underdeveloped that when intimate moments do occur, they rarely have much impact. Captain America’s relationship with Peggy Carter in his first movie probably had the best foundation, of all the MCU romances, but that only made him kissing her niece, Sharon, feel downright wrong. Haley Atwell herself has said as such.

Romance, even among fictional characters, requires some level of chemistry to go along with the narrative. While that can be difficult to fit into a single movie, it’s not impossible. Movies like “Man of Steel” and the first “Spider-Man” movie were able to establish the necessary chemistry with only a handful of scenes. Such scenes have been absent or underdeveloped in the MCU.

Ironically, the most fleshed out romance in the MCU is between Starlord and Gamora, two characters who aren’t an endearing love story in the comics. I would even argue that the scene in which Starlord sacrifices himself to save Gamora in the first “Guardians of the Galaxy” movie shows more romantic depth than any other MCU movie to date.

It didn’t take much to show that Starlord and Gamora have chemistry. From their first interactions to the many challenges they overcame over the course of two movies, they developed a powerful connection that just isn’t there for Vision and the Scarlet Witch. That connection is part of what made the events between them in “Avengers: Infinity War” so heart-wrenching.

That same sentiment just wasn’t there with Vision. We knew from the events of two previous movies that Starlord genuinely loved Gamora. We understood how strong it was by the time Thanos entered the picture. There’s none of that present with Vision and the Scarlet Witch. When they face a similar situation, it just doesn’t have the same impact.

It probably helps that Guardians of the Galaxy was a relatively obscure series before the first movie and has little history of iconic romances compared to the Avengers. However, it does show that the MCU is capable of meaningful romance. It just seems incapable of applying it to the more notable couples from the comics.

While such flaws haven’t stopped the MCU from succeeding on so many other levels, it still ensures that Vision and the Scarlet Witch have an uphill battle in terms of proving their romance is more than an assumed contrivance. It’s certainly not impossible, but there’s a lot to develop in terms of chemistry and depth.

Given on how “Avengers Endgame” played out, it may not matter how poorly past romances have been handled. However, the impact it has had in the “Guardians of the Galaxy” movies shows that there is a place for romance in the MCU. Perhaps Vision and the Scarlet Witch can be part of that with the upcoming show, but it has lot to overcome before it can be the iconic romance that the MCU needs.

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